Rutgers became a part of the Big Ten in 2014, and although this signified a place in the collegiate athletic world, it has brought upon other changes too. It has allowed the University to expand its offered course list, options for study abroad and access to libraries. The honor of being a Big Ten school does not only bring a prestigious reputation but also inevitably greater responsibilities. And Rutgers seems to be taking these obligations very seriously.

Students at Rutgers are fortunate to go to a University that puts an emphasis on the importance of mental and emotional health. The University has recently made many strides to demonstrate to the student body that their emotional health is important, and that should they ever need someone to talk to, people are available and ready to listen to them. The University is doing this through the changes being made at the Center for Counseling, Alcohol and Other Drug Assistance Program and Psychiatric Services (CAPS).

One in three women and one in four men are reported to have experienced some type of physical violence by an intimate partner. You hear statistics like this all the time, but you hardly hear the stories behind the numbers. Rutgers is changing that.

With the oncoming worries and tracking reports of Hurricanes Irma, Hurricane Jose and Hurricane Katia, it seems as though the trauma and devastation of Hurricane Harvey on Texas has been pushed to the background. And although it may seem to make sense to tackle these deadly hurricanes as they come forth, it is important to try to make efforts to starting healing as soon as they hit. This is exactly what Rutgers has attempted to do.

Oftentimes, students here at the Rutgers—New Brunswick campus forget that the entirety of the city does not revolve around the University. In fact, just a few blocks away from the College Avenue campus (where many upperclassmen choose to live) the residential life of New Brunswick can clearly be seen. And within residential New Brunswick, the New Brunswick Free Public Library has decided to create a new Municipal Identification program.

Rutgers has made many strides toward upholding its reputation as a progressive University. With its high ranking in economic mobility, its appointment of the first openly gay dean of the School of Public Health, University President Robert L. Barchi pushing back against the efforts to repeal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and now a norm of themed football games, the University is doing well to create a well-rounded, all-inclusive and fun atmosphere for its students. But the University’s faculty union is attempting to improve circumstances for the staff, especially “regarding family leave and disability resulting from pregnancy.”

As Rutgers students, one of our most communal concerns involves meal swipes: How many should we buy? How many do we have left? How do we spread them out? The questions remain crucially in the back of our heads as we maneuver through our daily college lives. But thanks to the University, one of the apprehensions revolving meal swipes will be a thing of the past.

As another academic year begins, students are trying to transition from the relaxation of summertime to the hustle and bustle of college life. And while it may be difficult for most to find the motivation to start off the semester strong, one asset of Rutgers life has already hit the ground running — Rutgers football.

Oftentimes, events are held in order to create a sense of remembrance of tragedies that have passed. And although the common saying, “We will never forget,” is often recited in reference to the tragic events that took place on Sept. 11, 2001, a fraternity at Rutgers hosted a silent memorial walk with a similar slogan, but this time to remember the lives taken during the Holocaust.

Students at the University are constantly learning new things in their classes. That is why a majority of students attend college — to get an education. But more important than learning facts, figures and theories is learning how to apply them to enchance one's life, and especially the lives of those around them. This is exactly what 24 women that were featured in “UNherD” are receiving recognition for.

With summer vacation just a few weeks away, most students are anxious about internships or things that they can do during the break to promote a successful future for themselves. But a relatively new organization at the University is assisting students in finding opportunities that will further their success during the school year, especially if they are interested in business.

Rutgers students often forget that New Brunswick is not only comprised of the University, it is a city in itself, with a population of people who have no connection to the University at all. And within this population, almost 35 percent of New Brunswick is living in poverty.

You’ve seen the Women’s March, the "No Ban, No Wall” protests and several other public demonstrations fighting the current presidential administration and some of its attitudes towards certain groups or situations in the United States. But one of the most recent public protests is somewhat of an unexpected one. On April 22, Washington, D.C. is having a March for Science, and Rutgers is publicly endorsing it.

Back in January, at the beginning of the spring semester, Rutgers seemed to begin a big renovation plan to improve transportation at the University. This began with the implementation of bike and bus lanes along the side of College Avenue. The plan was meant to incorporate a “newly designed street” with separate and marked bike-only and bus-only lanes, hoping to create a less congested street. The transportation plan was also made in hopes to promote the safety for other forms of transportations aside from the buses. Parking meters that were regularly on College Avenue were to be removed for this adjustment. These changes were estimated to be complete by the end of this semester. This was all detailed in an email University President Robert L. Barchi sent out to the Rutgers community.